Washing machine lint catcher



1951 M. A. POWERS ETAL WASHING MACHINE LINT CATCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed March 4, 1946 INVENTORS Mllfon APon/ers ATTORNEYS J 1951 M. A.POWERS El'AL 2,536,087

WASHING MACHINE LINT CATCHER INVENTORS MIH'OYI. fl. Powers BY AlvinLodge ATl'oRa 'g Patented Jan. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEWASHING MACHINE LINT CATCHER Milton A. Powers and Alvin Lodge, Detroit,Mich.,

assignors to The Timken-Detroit Axle Company, Detroit, Mich., acorporation of Ohio Application March 4, 1946, Serial No. 651,766

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines, inparticular to those which recirculate the cleaning fluid through thecleansing space or tub.

The invention is shown applied to a washing machine of the typedescribed in our co-pending application Serial Number 587,474 filedApril 10, 1945, now abandoned, which discloses and claims novel washingmachine construction and methods of washing.

In our machine the tub in which the clothes are washed is made withperforations so.that there is continuous discharge of the washing fluidtherefrom. The number and size of the perforations control the amount ofleakage and a recirculating pump is provided of suflicient capacity toinsure rapid removal of all leakage, returning it immediately to the tubthrough the pump and recirculating line thereby maintaining the waterlevel at the desired height at all times. The holes are made larger insize or number above the water line so that an excess of water can becirculated with the result that a large percentage goes out through theholes near the top without increasing the operating level of the waterin the tub. This also provides a skimming action which removes anyfloating particles from the tub as the surface water at all times ismoving steadily toward the overflow holes around the periphery as thetub oscillates.

Clothes to be washed usually contain quantities of lint as well asparticles of soil which are loosened by the action of the cleaning fluidbeing agitated through and against the fabric. Other solids includingthe curd or scum which results from the action of the soap on thechemicals in the water and clothes are also suspended or floating onthis liquid. Due to our skimming action, a large portion of the foreignmatter is immediately and continuously carried into the cir-- culatingsystem with the liquid.

It is of great importance if possible to remove lint, soil particles andscum from the water during the washing action, thereby reducing theamount which will be re-precipitated upon the clothes when the water isremoved. Obviously, if all or most of this waste material which we mayterm dross is already removed before the water starts to drain, littleor no dross can remain on the clothes.

In the conventional automatic washing machine it is customary to providesome straining means, but this is usually limited in effectiveness toremoval of large particles of lint, buttons and the like-and essentiallyis intended to protect the moving parts against damage and to prevent agradual clogging of the passages in the machine. Such screeningarrangements are frequently located where they are inaccessible for easycleaning, and in practice are cleaned only at intervals, usually whenthey'become so filled that the operators attention is called to thenecessity for cleaning by impaired'action of the machine.

Somewhat improved devices for accomplishing the general purpose ofremoving the heavier forms of lint and waste have been used before, asfor instance those illustrated by the Patent 2,270,750 to Barifli andthe Patents 1,798,730, 2,274,402 and 2,298,096 to Dunham. Our device,however, is of much improved construction and efiectiveness including aneasily removable, disposable filter element of large capacity which isso designed as to permit free passage of the recirculated fluid backinto the washer in the event that so much dross is accumulated duringone wash cycle as to cause clogging of our filter element.

Our method of filtering greatly exceeds in effectiveness any previousefiorts in this direction with which we are familiar. In addition toremoval of the lint and larger particles of soil, we are particularlyconcerned with trapping of all of the extremely fine particles of scum,and

' similar precipitates resulting from various chemical actions of thesoap, soil and water. It is this form of dross which is responsible forthe tiny specks and a gray cast in the white color of clothes cleaned byordinary methods. No ordinary filter will accomplish this purpose.

We are successful by providing a special filter element of large areacapable of removing the scum particles by adsorption, one to the other,as well as to the fabric of the filter. Thus by continuous collection ofscum particles immediately after they are formed in the tub, we maintainthe wash water in a relatively clean condition at all times and therebyaccomplish a quality of washing heretofore impossible. In view of thelarge volume of scum accumulated in a single washing, we provide a verylarge filter area. Furthermore at times we find even this is notadequate, and therefore provision is made for free bypassing of thewater returning to the tub under such abnormal conditions.

Our system of operation is predicated upon applying a. clean filterelement for each washing, and the location is such as to make the needfor this to be both obvious and easy to accomplish. However, no harm,other than a poor quality wash, will result if the user fails to put ona clean filter or leaves it off altogether.

It is therefore a maior object of our invention to provide novel andimproved means for removing all forms of dross from recirculatedcleaning and/or rinsing fluid in a washing machine.

Another object of our invention is the provision of an improved filterof simple construction, ample area and efficient operation.

It is another object to provid a novel filter system fora washingmachine, utilizing an inexpensive disposable filter element.

2 leaves the top of the Another important object is the provision of afilter system for the recirculating fluid in a washing machine,including means for bypassing the filter in the event of its becomingclogged by dross or waste.

Another object is the provision in a filter for the recirculating fluidin a washing machine of means for automatically swinging it out of theway when the washing machine top is opened, so

that it will not obstruct the opening through which the clothes areplaced in and removed from panying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a washing machine showingthe circulatory sys-' tem of the cleaning fluid and showing the filterin its operating position; a

Figure 2 is a frontelevation view of the upper portion of the washingmachine, with the top open and the filter raised so that clothes may beinserted or removed from the tub;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of th washing machine with a portion of thecover cut away to show the filter in operating position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing details of the upper portion ofFigure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view, taken substantially along 55 ofFigur 4; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 66of Figure 4, showing in detail the member that releasably retains thefilter in a fixed positionwith respect to the hinged top of the machine.

As shown in Figure 1, the machine comprises an outer casing I having atop with a hinged lid 2 which israised in order to insert clothes and toremove them from the machine. Within casing l is a fixed well 3 having atop 4 which slopes toward a central opening for the insertion andremoval of clothes into and out of a perforated tub 5 which is drivenwith either an oscillatory or continuous rotary movement about avertical axis by a motor 6.

A conduit 1 drains the well 3 and connects with the inlet of a pump 8through which the water 4 inlet conduit 12. and enters a flaringhorizontal conduit I! of larse cross sectional area where its velocityis reduced before it enters the filter and returns to the tub i.

The flaring conduit 19 terminates in a short rectangular spout 22 havingparallel vertical side walls each of which is provided with a verticalperforated lug 2| to receive the inturned ends 23 and 24 of a metalU-shaped frame 25, the frame being thereby hinged for pivotal movementabout a horizontal axis at the discharge end of the conduit l8. It willbe noted that the pivotal axis of the frame 25 is close to but slightlyhorizontally spaced from the hinge point 26 of the lid 2 so that theycan be raised together to the position shown I upwardly extending legs28 and 29 which are bent over the frame 25 adjacent its pivotal axis tofasten the spreader member to the frame. The spreader member 21 is stiffenough to retain the ends 23 and 24 of the frame 25 in the perforatedlugs 2 I. The horizontal portion of the spreader member 21 is below thebottom wall of th rectangular spout 22 and the legs 28 and 2 9are spacedfrom the side walls of the spout as best shown in Figure 5, and for apurpose to be described.

A glove or bag like filter cloth 32 is so dimen- 'sioned that theU-shaped frame 25 may be in-v We have noted a peculiar phenomena in theaction of our filtering medium in the removal of extremely fineparticles of scum carried in suspension in the water following chemicalpre-' cipitation during the washing action. As just described, the meshof our cloth through which the water is filtered is comparativelycoarse.

' While long, stringy particles of lint might be can flow, even with thpump stationary, to a conduit 9 from which it enters either a dischargepipe 12 or an inlet conduit l2, depending upon the position of a rockeris which presses against eithe of two spaced portions of a flexiblediaphragm valve 15 to determine the path of the water leaving theconduit 9. Fresh water for filling the machine is admitted through amixer I6, conduit 11 and injector It to the inlet conduit expected to beretained by such a filter, there would presumably be no removal of thevery tiny particles of scum and the like. On the contrary, we weresurprised to find that scumwas removed quite efiectively by the widelyspaced threads of the filter. In fact, when continued long enough, orwhen sufiicient scum or curd is present, the entire openingbetweenfibers will soon become entirely blocked by a gradual bridging over ofthe scum accumulation. Under such circumstances the water will no longerflow through that particular opening, but will move on to a new freepassageway elsewhere.

We have tried to explain this phenomena without too much success. Itseems to be due first of all to an adsorption effect on the scumparticle by the nearby fiber of the filter. Thereafter the action seemsto be an adsorption action by an already adsorbed particle whichattracts and holds the passing particle. This accumulation continues tooccur until the filter is filled or the water entirely cleaned.

Furthermore we were surprised to find that later passage of fresh cleanwater through or over the partly loaded filter, such as will occurduring the rinsing cycle following the washing cycle, does not dislodgeany or at least not a noticeable amount of the scum accumulations in thefilter. Further, the cohesion of the scum is such as to cement and holdthe trapped lint and other foreignmatter and thereby prevents it alsofrom being removed from the filter and re-entering the circulating waterstream.

The filter bag and frame are held in a substantially horizontal positionas shown in Figures 1 and 4 by a hook 33 (Figure 6) on the inner end ofa lever 34 which is pivotally attached to the lid 2 by a grommet-likebearing 35 rotatable in the lower wall 36 of the two spaced wallsforming the lid 2. The lever passes through the bearing 35 into thespace between the walls of the lid 2, and then passes back through thelower wall 36 through an opening 31, and terminates in a handle 38 whichis accessible so that it can be operated without lifting the lid 2, asshown in Figure 4.

A tension spring 39 having one end fastened to the lever 34 adjacent thehandle 38 and its other end fastened to the wall 36 biases the lever 34so that the hook 33 continually engages the filter bag and frame untilreleased by operating the handle 38. Thus when the lid 2 is raised toplace clothes in or remove them from the tub the filter issimultaneously raised out of the way. If, however, it is desired tomerely observe the operation of the machine the filter may be disengagedfrom the hook 33 by operating the handle 38, whereupon the filter willbe released and its outer end will rest upon the top .4.

In operation, as the dross separated from the recirculated fluid clogsany one portion of the filter bag 32 the fluid can change its course andflow through a different portion thereof since the bag has a large areaaffording passage to the liquid. In the event of the filter bag becomingso clogged as to prevent the passage of fluid therethrough, the fluidcan readily flow back out of the mouth of the bag between it and theouter walls of the spout 22 in the manner indicated by the flow lines 40of Figure 3.

Our device therefore provides a novel means for removing dross fromwashing machines of the type described. The filter bag is of low costand is easily removed for disposal and replacement. There issubstantially no impediment to the free fiow of recirculated fluid, evenwhen the filter becomes clogged, since it is then bypassed by the fluid.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrativeand not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by theappended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and allchanges which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of theclaims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent i's:

1. In a washing machine, a clothes container; a pump, a drain connectingsaid container and the inlet of said pump; a horizontal spout disposedover said container and connected to the outlet of said pump; anelongated substantially U-shaped frame horizontally disposed over saidcontainer and having its free ends attached to said spout; a secondsubstantially U -shaped frame perpendicular to said elongated frame andspaced from the side and bottom walls of said spout, the free ends ofsaid frames being fastened together; and a, filter bag havingdts bodyportion stretched over said elongated frame and its mouth held open bysaid second frame, the mouth of said bag overlapping the end of saidspout.

2. In a washing machine, a clothes container, a spout for dischargingfluid into said container, a relatively long narrow filter bag having anopen mouth at one end, and means for supporting said filter bag insubstantially horizontal position over said clothes container with itsopen mouth in the path of the fluid discharge from said spout.

3. The combination described in claim 2, wherein said spout is smallerthan said mouth and extends thereinto leaving a passageway between saidspout and said mouth.

4. In a washing machine, a clothes receptacle; a spout above saidclothes receptacle for delivering fluid into said receptacle; and ashiftable filter support in said machine mounted for movement between aposition in the path of fluid discharge from said spout and a positionout of said path.

5. In a washing machine, a clothes receptacle, 2. spout above saidclothes receptacle fordelivering fluid into said receptacle, and afilter support pivotally mounted in said machine for movement between aposition in the path of fluid discharge from said spout and a positionout of said path.

6. In a washing machine, an outer casing having an openable lid movablymounted on the top thereof, a clothes tub within said casing, a spoutabove said tub for delivering fluid into the tub, and a filter supportadapted to hold a filter movably mounted within said casing for movementbetween a position where the filter thereon is dis-- posed in the pathof fluid discharge from said spout and a position where said filter isout of said path, and means for selectively interconnecting said lid andsaid filter support whereby the filter support may be selectively movedwith said lid when the latter is opened.

7. In a washing machine, an outer casing having a hinged lid on the topthereof, a clothes tub within said casing, a spout above said tub fordelivering fluid into the top of the tub, and a filter support adaptedto h0ld a filter hingedly connected to said casing for movement betweena position where a filter thereon is disposed in the path of fluiddischarge from said spout and a position where said filter is out ofsaid path.

8. In a washing machine, an outer casing having a hinged lid on the topthereof, a clothes tub within said casing, a spout above said tub fordelivering fluid into the top of the tub, a filter support adapted tohold a filter hingedly connected to said casing for movement between aposition in the path of the fluid discharged from said spout and aposition out of said path, the pivotal axis of said filter support beingsubstantially parallel and adjacent to the pivotal axis of said lid, andmeans for selectively connecting said filter support to said lid formovement therewith.

9. In a washing machine, an outer casing having a hinged lid, a clothestub within said casing, a spout above said tub, a frame adapted to holda filter element pivotally connected to said spout, and means connectingsaid frame to said lid for movement therewith when said lid is lifted.

10. In a washing machine, an outer casing having a hinged lid, a clothestub within said casing, a spout above said tub. a frame adapted to holdafllter element pivotally connected to said spout, and means releasablyattaching said irame'to said lid whereby said frame may be 8 meansreleasably connecting said support to said lid for movement therewith.

12. In the washing machine donned in claim 11, said last named meanscomprising a manuraised with opening movement of said lid, or said 5ally operable latch on said lid adapted to operlld may be raisedindependently of said frame.

11. In a washing machine. a rotatable receptacle having an open topadapted to receive material to be washed, an inlet conduit having adischarge end extending over the open top of said receptacle forsupplying cleaning fluid thereto,

means for recirculating overflow fluid from said receptacle through saidinletconduit for discharge into the open top oi. said receptacle, a

casing about said receptacle, a lid pivotally 1 mounted on said casing,a pivoted filter support for mounting a filter in the path of iluiddischarged through said conduit discharge end, and

ably connect said support to the lid.

MILTON A. POWERS. ALVIN LODGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

